Action toy



H. G. FISHER I 2,424,607

July 29, '1947.

ACTION T0! .Filed March i l 1945 v lNVENTO R I HERMAN G. FISHER QWQwQaMQCL-M ATTORNEY$ Patented July 29, 1947 UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE ACTION TOY Herman G. Fisher, East Aurora, N. Y., assignor to Fisher-Price Toys, Inc., East Aurora, N. Y.

Application March 14, 1945, Serial No. 582,605 3 Claims. (01. 45

This invention relates to action toys, and has v for its primary object the provision of an improved articulated multiple unit type. actiontoy providing novel actions of the units thereof. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pull toy of the character referred to which embodies a structurally simplified and otherwise improved articulation connection device between units thereof. Another object of the invention is to provide further improvements in toys of the type covered by my earlier Patent 2,282,179. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawing: I

Fig. l is a side elevation of a. toy of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the leading element thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a trailing element thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through a trailing element of the toy showing a detail of the articulation connection device thereof,

The toy of the invention comprises a plurality of toy elements so arranged and interconnected as to provide an improved type action toy which is of simple and sturdy construction and which is capable of novel and amusing performances. The toy illustrated comprises a leading body member In which is formed to simulate a duck, but it will be understood that it may simulate any other figure or animal. The body it is supported upon an axle member l2 disposed transversely thereof and carrying at its Opposite ends opposed traction wheels [4-44. Spacers lB-l6 are threaded upon the axle [2 between the body member l and the wheels |4-l4 to insure clearance of the wheels relative to the body member.

The wheels I4 are keyed to the axle l2 eccentrically thereof; the eccentricity of the wheels l4--l4 being opposite to one another, as shown in Fig. 2. A pull string may be fixed tothe front end of the body member III for manual pulling of the toy across a floor or other suitable supporting surface.

One or more trailing body elements as at 22 are connected in articulated relation to the body member ll] so as to trail therebehind upon pulling of the cord 20. The body elements 22 are also formed to simulate any desired animal figure,

or the like, and each body member 22 carries a transverse rotatable axle 24 which in turn mounts at its opposite ends traction wheels 26. The traction wheels 26 are smaller in diameter than the wheels l4 and are also eccentrically mounted upon their respective axles in the manner described in connection with the traction wheels I4.

Connections are provided between the body elements of the toy and comprise in each case a rigid cantilever arm 28 extending from the rear of a leading element rearwardly therefrom into swivable connection with the next trailing body element of the toy combination. At this end each arm 28 is apertured as at 30 (Fig. 4) for loose fitting connection around a vertically extending pin 32 which is driven in friotionally fitted relation into suitable openings formed in the body element 22. To simplify the toy construction the pin 32 may conveniently interconnect the body 22 and the toy neck and head members as indicated at 34-36; and preferably the pin 32 will be disposed ahead of the axle 24.

Thus, the connection devices are capable of transmitting thepulling forces required to draw the entire toy combination across the supporting surface, and it will be understood that due to the eccentric mountings of the traction wheels under the body elements of the toy, the elements thereof will oscillate separately and in different directions about the long axis of the toy as well as about both axes transversely thereto whenever the toy is drawn across a floor or other supporting. surface. For example the oppositely eccentric mountings of the wheels [4 cause the body member ID to oscillate about the axle 12 with a universal movement, thereby causing the outer end of the corresponding arm 28 to describe a circle. At the same time the next adjacent body member 22 is influenced to oscillate universally about its transverse axis due to the eccentric mountings of its wheels 26-26. The orbit of motion of the body 22 therefor is defined by a composition of the forces thereon, and since the wheels [4 and 26 are of different diameters the periods of oscillation of the body members l0 and 22 differ substantially. Therefore the time relationships of the oscillations of the body member 22 with respect to the body member II] are constantly changing, and the toy combination will therefore be actuated so as to simulate a group of independently moving animate bodies. The result is very effective, for example, when employed. as illustrated in the drawing to imitate a family of ducklings waddling along behind an adult duck or the like. However, it will be understood that the toy elements may be formed with equal facility to simulate any other desired animal or other animate or inanimate objects.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the stiff arm forms of the arms 28 provide a novel composition of oscillation influences upon the following body elements of the toy, and that although the connections between the body elements are suificiently free to permit adjacent body elements thereof to oscillate in opposite directions under the influence of the eccentric mountings thereof, the interconnecting arms operate at all times to stabilize the various toy elements and to maintain the body elements generally in alignment. Thus, the individual body elements of the toy are protected against being upset from wheeling positions upon the floor or other supporting surface; and the toy is in the form of an easily handled single unit. v

Although only one application and form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appen'ded'claims.

I claim:

1. A traction toy comprising a leading figure and a trailing figure, eccentric traction wheels at opposite sides of the leading figure secured for joint rotation, the wheels at opposite sides of the leading figure having opposed eccentricity whereby the body of said leading figure when moved forwardly along a surface pursues a waddling course, said trailing figure having a pair of eccentrically mounted traction wheels likewise fixed thereon in opposed eccentricity whereby to cause its body to waddle, said trailing figure having a longitudinally formed socket in the forward end of its body, a stabilizing cantilever arm. extending rearwardly from said leading figure and loosely disposed within said socket to maintain said figures generally in alignment while permitting individual waddling action thereof, and means carried by said trailing figure and disposed within the socket thereof for loosely coupling said arm to the body of the trailing figure in such manner as to permit independent oscillation of each figure around its longitudinal axis and limited transverse movement about its vertical and horizontal axes.

2. A traction toy comprising a leading figure and a trailing figure, eccentric traction wheels at opposite sides of the leading figure secured for joint rotation, the wheels at opposite sides of the leading figure having opposed eccentricity whereby the body of said leading figure when moved forwardly along a surface pursues a waddling means carried by said trailing figure and disposed within the socket adjacent the wheel axis thereof for loosely coupling said arm to the body of the trailing figure in such manner as to permit independent oscillation of each figure around its longitudinal axis and limited transverse movement about its vertical and horizontal axes.

3. A traction toy comprising a leading figure and a trailing figure, eccentric traction wheels at opposite sides of the leading figure secured for joint rotation, the wheels at opposite sides of the leading figure having opposed eccentricity whereby the body of said leading figure when moved forwardly along a surface pursues a waddling course, said trailing figure having a pair of eccentrically mounted traction wheels likewise fixed thereon in opposed eccentricity whereby to cause its body to waddle, said trailing figure having a longitudinally formed socket in the forward end of its body, a stabilizing cantilever arm extending rearwardly from said leading figure and loosely disposed within said socket to maintain said figures generally in alignment while permitting individual waddling action thereof, and a vertically arranged coupling pin mounted within and extending across the socket of the trailing figure at a point adjacent the wheel axis and in advance thereof, said coupling in engaging an enlarged aperture formed in the end of said arm for loosely coupling said arm to the body of the trailing figure in such manner as to permit independent oscillation of each figure around its longitudinal axis and limited transverse movement about its vertical and horizontal axes.

HERMAN G. FISHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,282,179 Fisher May 5, 1942 1,975,418 Groif Oct. 2, 1934 

